FHE WORLD'S WONDERS, 



695 



of aurora burst forth here and there. Gradually the main arch 

 reached the zenith, and then was the grand part of the scene. 

 Much of what was before in perpendicular rays shot athwart and 

 across the heavens swiftly like a river of molten gold, here and 

 there forming vast whirlpools, here and there an eddy, here and 

 there a cataract of stupendous fall. When above my head, it 



WONDERFUL AURORA SEEN BY CAPT. HALL. 



seemed less than a pistol-shot distant. Indeed, it was near by. 

 When I moved quickly, running up to the top of the hill by the 

 igloo, making a distance of less than 50 fathoms, the arch of the 

 aurora, that seemed stationary while I was by the igloo and in 

 transitu, was now several degrees to the southwest of me. I re- 

 turned as quickly to the igloo, and the aurora belt was directly 

 overhead. So small a base, with so palpable a change in the 



